Clifford James Kramer

Clifford J. Kramer, born on March 16, 1951, passed away in Madison on Nov. 17, 2012 with his family beside him. He is survived by his wife Betsy (nee Scott) and their children Scott and wife Laura, Anna, and Michael; in-laws Esther and Ralph Scott; John and Eleanor Scott, Bill Scott and Heidi Holdener, Dan and Kate (Scott) Nelson, and nieces and nephews: Jennifer, Katy, Charlie, Dave and Emma; his sister Carol Smorch, aunt Audrey Krueger and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and June Kramer, other relatives, and precious friends.

Cliff earned a BS in Education (UW-Oshkosh), an MS in C&I and in Ed. Admin. (UW-Madison). He worked as a teacher and Reading Specialist in Sheboygan, Hartford and Middleton-Cross Plains. His keen curiosity, knowledge of brain research, and desire to help students with reading disabilities, resulted in numerous classroom research studies. Cliff published articles in professional journals and newspapers, books for use by teachers, and a remedial reading screening test. He inspired his students to learn through humor, creativity and praise, which made Mr. Kramer a beloved teacher and resulted in a "Congressional Award for Excellence in Teaching". But Cliff's true legacy is in the children whose lives he changed forever as their gifted teacher, coach, uncle and father.

Cliff loved his family, friends, reading, and nature. He also enjoyed a good joke, trivia, math, sports, playing Sheephead with buddies and swimming in Lake Michigan as a founding member of the Sheboygan Polar Bears. In his modest way, Cliff taught us the meaning of courage and love. He faced great challenges with a sense of humor and the belief that one should not turn inconveniences into problems. Cliff practiced the ideals in Robert Fulghum's book: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, which (in true reading teacher manner) he would assign as the curriculum for a good life.

An informal celebration of Cliff's life will be held at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg on Friday, November 23 with visitation at 1:00 and a service at 1:45. Donations to: Park Elem. School in Cross Plains (for books), the MS Society, Agrace Hospice (for their loving care), or the charity of your choice which benefits children or literacy.